Clamp support



F. E. WOODRUFF I 2,086,789

' CLAMP SUPPORT Jul 13, 1937} Filed April 25, 1935 .w w J v Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEE CLAMP SUPPORT Tex.

Application April 25, 1935, Serial No. 18,272

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved clamp support and is particularly adapted for clamping and supporting the neutral wire and ground wire used in electric line installations.

One object of the invention is to provide a support which, after installation on a pole, will effectually retain the neutral wire of an electric line installation in position and also provide an effective means by which a ground wire may be rigidly connected to said neutral wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support which is formed of companion sections fitted together and secured to a pole or other mounting means by a single fastening device, so that the use of solder, wire, or other connecting devices, is dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support wherein the companion sections are effectually connected together in operative position at several points throughout their length but which, when the single fastening device is loosened, may be readily separated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the companion sections may be rocked away from each other while in position but before tightening, so that the neutral wire and ground wire may be placed therein without removing the entire device from the mounting post.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a support which will be simple in construction and which may be manufactured with facility in large quantities.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will render themselves apparent during the course of the following description.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved support as it would appear in operative osition with a neutral wire and a ground wire secured therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, partly shown in elevation, and illustrating how the neutral wire and ground wire would appear in operative position in the support.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line t4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and showing, in dotted lines, the position of one of the companion sections when said sections are spread to receive the neutral wire.

Referring now more particularly to the accomr-anying drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral l indicates a mounting post to which is connected, at its upper end portion, an insulator 2 which supports a high ten-. sion wire 3. A neutral wire 4 is associated with the post beneath the high tension. wire 3, and a ground wire 5 is also associated with the post and is embedded in the earth at its lower extremity, in the usual manner.

Associated with the post and connecting the neutral wire 4 and the ground wire 5 thereto, is my improved clamp support which comprises companion sections 5 and 'l which are preferably cast from metal and are relatively large in diameter at their central portions and taper in thickness toward their opposite ends. The companion sections are identical in construction sothat a description of one will suffice for both.

A typical section includes a semi-circular wall 8 and a fiat face 9 extending throughout the length of said section. The section is tapered in diameter from the middle toward its opposite ends. Formed in the section medially of its length is an opening Ill which is gradually enlarged elliptically and vertically near its outer end, as indicated at H. The section 1 is formed with a like opening. The purpose of the enlarged opening will be described hereinafter. in the section 6 and extending throughout its length is a straight V-shaped trough or recess I2 which is adapted to receive the neutral wire 4. The recess l2 cooperates with a like oppositely disposed recess in the companion section I to define an opening. Formed on the section 6 beneath the recess I2, and at one side of the opening I0, is a protuberance or locking pin it, while formed in said section at the other side of said opening is a socket M. It should be understood that the pin 13 is adapted to engage in an oppositely disposed socket in the section I, as shown in Figure 3, while the socket I4 is adapted to receive a corresponding pin 15 which is formed on the section I. As seen in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawing, the end portions of the pins l3 and iii are rounded so that they will be readily permitted to tilt, or shift in and out of their respective sockets. The cooperating pins and sockets prevent relative longitudinal movement of the two sections when the device is in use and also prevents possible relative rotative movement of the two sections. Formed on the section 6 at the enlarged portion thereof, are stops it.

Extending through both of the sections and Formed through the post I, or like supporting element, is a bolt I! which is provided with a preferably squared head I8 adapted to fit between the stops I6. Said stops will, of course, limit the head against rotative movement when the same is abutted against the section I. It should be understood that the bolt l1 serves the dual purpose of connecting the sections to each other and also connecting the entire device to the post. A suitable retaining nut IQ is screwed on the free end of the bolt I] for retaining the entire assembly in position.

As can be best seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the neutral wire extends throughout the length of the recess l2 and has wound thereabout the ground wire 5. The clamp support will, as will be understood, rigidly connect the ground wire 5 and neutral wire 4 to each other and will retain said wires in operative position on the post I. As seen in dotted lines in Figure. 5 of the drawing, when it is desired to remove the neutral wire 4 and the ground wire 5 from the-clamp support, it is only necessary to loosen the bolt'i'l to such an extent that the sections may be spread apart for permitting the removal of said wires from between the sections; The use of the enlarged openings H permits the sections to shift away from each other upon the bolt so that ready separation of the sections may take place. As the pins I3 and [5 are rounded at their free ends, said pins will permit the sections to swing apart and, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, when said sections are separated, the top portions of the pins will engage the top 'of the recesses It at the mouths thereof so that complete separation, with consequent relative rotation of the sections, will not take place. The stops 16, of course, prevent rotation'of the. head I8 of the bolt I! when the device has been secured in position so that the nut [9 may be tightened to the desired degree. It should 1 be understood that the walls of the Vshaped recesses cooperate for clamping the ground wire to the neutral Wire as well as efiectually supporting both wires between the sections. The recesses I2 are flared at their ends to prevent chafing of the wire passing through said recesses.

It is believed that from the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple and highly efiicient clamp support which may be placed in use with the utmost facility and which will need little or no attention after initial installation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A clamp support including companion sections, each formed with a longitudinal V-shaped recess defining an opening, alined openings formed in the sections medially and transversely thereof and being elliptically enlarged vertically toward their outer ends, and a bolt extending through said alined openings and adapted for clamping the sections to each other and to a support whereby a wire inthe first mentioned opening will be secured in position against the walls of the \'-shaped recesses, said enlarged openings permitting tilting of the sections away from each other when the bolt is loosened for permitting removal of the wire from the first mentioned opening.

2. A clamp support including companion sections having V-shaped longitudinal recesses formed therein defining an opening between the sections to receive a neutral wire and a ground wire having its end portion wound thereabout, a pin carried on one of the sections at one end and a recess formed in said section at the opposite end, a pin and recess similarly formed on the other of said sections, said pins and recesses be ing adapted for cooperating for retaining the sections in proper relative position and said pins being formed with rounded end portions, said sections being formed with openings medially thereof and said openings being enlarged toward their outer ends, and a bolt extending through said second mentioned openings and adapted for connecting the sections to each other and to a supporting element, the walls of said V-shaped recesses clamping the ground wire to the neutral wire and both of said wires within the recess, and said rounded end portions of. said pins cooperating with the enlarged openings for permitting tilting of the sections away from each other and removal of the wires. when the bolt is loosened.

FORESTER E. WOODRUFF. 

